Using this thoroughly explained, detailed flash lesson, you will see how to create mask animation in flash using some special flash tricks. You don't have to use action script code to make this lesson. You can use this animation for some flash banner, image presentation or image listing. Using this lesson, you will also learn how to import any image into a flash stage, how to animate it, apply flash filter on it and much much more! Let's start!

Example:



Step 1

First, save the image below that we will use for this lesson.





Step 2

Create a new flash document. Press Ctrl+J key on the keyboard (Document Properties) and set the width of your document to 350 pixels and the height to 219 pixels. Select white as background color. Set your Flash movie's frame rate to 28 and click ok.



Step 3

Call the current layer image. Double-click on its default name (Layer 1) to change it. Press Enter once you have typed in the new name!

Step 4

Choose now File > Import > Import to stage (Ctrl+R) and import the image that you just saved in step 1 into a flash stage. While the image is still selected, go to the Align Panel (Ctrl+K) and do the following:

1. Make sure that the Align/Distribute to Stage button is turned on,
2. Click on the Align horizontal center button and
3. Click the Align vertical center button.



Step 5

While the image is still selected, hit F8 key (Convert to Symbol) to convert it into a Movie Clip Symbol.



Step 6

Click now on frame 30 and hit F6 key.

Step 7

Go back now on the first frame, select the Selection Tool (V) and click once on the image to select it. After that, go to the Properties Panel (Ctrl+F3) below the stage! Then, select Filters tab from the left side. Click after that on the plus icon and select the Blur filter. Make the adjustments as follows:



Step 8

Right-click anywhere on the gray area between the two keyframes on the timeline and choose Create Motion Tween from the menu that appear.



Step 9

Create a new layer above the layer image and name it mask.

Step 10

Select mask layer, take the Rectangle Tool (R) and draw a rectangle shape about 20x230 px and place it on the position like it is shown on the picture below!



Step 11

Click now on frame 15,20 and 30 of layer mask and hit F6 key.

Step 12

While you're still on frame 30, select the Free Transform Tool (Q), press and hold down Shift key and do like it is shown on the picture below!



Step 13

Go back now on frame 20, select again the Free Transform Tool (Q), press and hold down Shift key and do like it is shown on the picture below!



Step 14

Go back now on frame 15, select again the Free Transform Tool (Q) and do like it is shown on the picture below!



Step 15

Right-click anywhere on the gray area between frame 1 and 15, frame 15 and 20 and frame 20 and 30 on the timeline and choose Create Shape Tween from the menu that appears.



Step 16

Select mask layer and convert it to a mask by right-clicking on the mask layer and selecting Mask. See the picture below.



We're done now!

Test your Movie (Ctrl+Enter) and enjoy!

Download source file (.fla)